Can the winless Vikings overcome a tough schedule and emulate the reigning Super Bowl champion Giants, who started last season 0-2?

The Vikings knew their schedule was unkind, especially early on, and a season filled with high expectations couldn't afford a slow start.

"Our schedule was tough, and we knew we had to come out and play fast," Vikings safety Darren Sharper said. "I said this before the season: You need to win the games you're supposed to win, and I hope we will take that type of thinking and carry that over into the game, because we don't want to be in here again, at the end of November and December, (and) we want a team to lose for us."

The Vikings are optimistic they can regroup and achieve their goals. But they also recognize history: Only 27 teams have rebounded from a 0-2 start to make the playoffs since the NFL adopted a 16-game schedule in 1978.

Vikings quarterback Tarvaris Jackson, however, mentioned that the New York Giants overcame a 0-2 start to win the Super Bowl last season.

"You know, we got 14 more," he said. "A lot of people say that you go 0-2 and you're pretty much out of it, but that is not true at all. You go back to last year and you see the (New York) Giants went 0-2, and you know you still have life. We are definitely going to keep working hard."

Here's a look at how the 2008 Vikings compare to the 2007 Giants:

WHAT'S SIMILAR QUESTIONS AT QUARTERBACK

Eli Manning was last season's Super Bowl MVP. But the former No. 1 pick was on shaky ground at the end of 2006 and beginning of 2007. After the Giants started 6-2 in 2006, they lost six of their final eight games.

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During that eight-game stretch, Manning completed 141 of 261 passes for 1,393 yards with nine touchdowns, nine interceptions and one lost fumble. His passer rating was 66.4.

After a stellar performance in a 45-35 season-opening loss to Dallas in 2007 (he completed 28 of 41 passes for 312 yards, four touchdowns and one interception), Manning returned to his erratic ways, not posting a turnover-free game until Nov. 18.

One of his most forgettable performances was against the moribund Miami Dolphins. Manning completed just 8 of 22 passes for 59 yards, with no touchdowns and one lost fumble.

But Manning played well in a near upset of undefeated New England in the season finale (22 of 32 for 251 yards, four touchdowns, one interception). And in the four playoff games, he was 72 of 119 passing for 854 yards, with six touchdowns, one interception and no lost fumbles.

When Jackson returned from injury in 2007, he led the Vikings to a 5-2 finish, although his numbers were similar to Manning's at the end of the previous season. Jackson completed 120 of 184 passes for 1,311 yards, with seven touchdowns and seven interceptions and three lost fumbles. His passer rating was 82.9.

But Jackson is under fire two games into this season. His defense isn't scoring off turnovers like it was last season, and he is leading the Vikings on drives that end in field goals.

WHAT'S DIFFERENT STRENGTH OF SCHEDULE

After an 0-2 start, the Giants capitalized on a weak schedule. After two hard-fought wins against NFC East opponents, the Giants enjoyed one of the easiest stretches imaginable: four games against teams (Jets, Falcons, 49ers and Dolphins) that won a combined 14 games last season.

After their bye, the Giants' final four wins were against teams with a record of .500 or worse to qualify for the postseason.

The Vikings don't have such luck. They have the NFL's fifth-hardest schedule, including six 2007 playoff teams, three of which were division champions.

Three of those games against 2007 playoff teams, however, come in the first five games (Colts, Packers and Titans), and the other two among the first five (Panthers and Saints) are potential playoff teams this season.

The "softer" part of the schedule comes in October, with home games against the Detroit Lions and Houston Texans and a game against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field.

Up next are the 2-0 Panthers. Carolina's offense is tied for 19th in the league, despite playing without Pro Bowl wide receiver Steve Smith, who returns from a two-game suspension Sunday against the Vikings.

After the Panthers, the Vikings head to Nashville, where they will face the 2-0 Titans. Tennessee has looked outstanding — particularly its defense — beating Jacksonville and Cincinnati. Tennessee is ranked second overall and against the run, and seventh against the pass.

If the Vikings can't cure their offensive ills and their defensive lapses, they could be staring at a 1-4 or 0-5 record.